Always Together, Eternally Apart
Chapter 4
Back to Garden
Disclaimer: No, ff8 doesn't belong to me, and none of it's characters do. But my characters belong to me!
Author's note: Sorry it took me so long to get this up here... but better late than never right? Well, this chapter has a surprise ending, but it's pretty predictable. Well, as always, please read and review, and give me some feedback people! Not just, very addicting please continue. That's very flattering and all, but I want to know how I'm doing and what I should change. Please don't flame, if you don't like it, don't read it! By the way, this is rated PG-13 for language. Phew, I'm done. On with the story!!!
Seifer sighed quietly as he stared up at the sleek vinyl tent roof. Morning was just about there, and he wasn't sure what he was going to tell Squall when he got there. He knew he had to return to Garden, but what would his explanation be? Everyone would want to know about where Squall and Rinoa were, but how was he gonna explain that stupid curse? And did Squall want them to know? He guessed that there was only one way to find out.
Squall scrambled to get his clothes on before anyone saw him. It was so embarrassing to wake up naked every morning. And cold too. He relaxed when he felt a light presence on his shoulder. She still gave him the most comfort, even as a dove.
Seifer's head snapped up when he heard light footsteps coming closer to the tent. Squall thought he was still asleep, and unzipped the tent very quietly. He jumped a bit when he saw Seifer awake. "Hey, I thought you'd be asleep still. Why are you up so early?" He inquired. Seifer was about to snap a retort in his usual rude way but caught himself. Squall had been so kind to him; why? After all he'd done? Said? He then realized just how much Squall loved Rinoa. He was hurting so badly from being away from her, that he was willing to forgive and forget. He understood that he was Squall's last hope. Whoever this Alexander guy was he was going to hunt him down and make him pay. "Well," he stuttered. "I'm going back to Garden Squall." He stated plainly. Squall's features drooped. He thought Seifer was leaving for good. When Seifer saw this, he quickly explained. "I wanted to tell everyone that you're okay. I also wanted to find that bastard who did this to you." Squall said nothing, but inside, he understood. "Alright Seifer. But do me one favor please." "What?" "Don't tell them about the curse. It would probably just make Zell have a spas attack and go on a rampage." Seifer had to laugh at that one. "Alright, done."
Seifer sighed peacefully as he reached the gates of his 20-year-old home. Everyone was going to be so excited to hear that Squall was okay. Zell especially. A part of that guy died that day when Squall and Rinoa disappeared. Same with everyone else. He really couldn't wait to tell them.
As he walked into the room, Quistis stood up and placed a hand over her slightly gaping mouth. "Seifer!" She managed finally. Suddenly she ran up to him and held him so tightly he had to release his breath. "Whoa Quistis, calm down. It's not like I've been gone for fifteen years." Seifer stated. Quistis blushed slightly, then sat down calmly. "Sorry." She muttered. "It's alright. Anyway, I wanted to tell you guys something that will make you very happy. Seifer said, barely keeping his emotions in. "It's about Squall." At this everyone jumped from his or her seats. "What about Squall?" Zell asked shakily. "I found him, he's alive." Not able to keep his emotions in any longer, Seifer grinned widely. Everyone sat there, shocked, stunned. Seifer swore he could've heard a pin drop in there. Zell was the first to break the silence by pumping his fists in the air in the usual Zell fashion. "OHHH YEAHH!!!!" He shouted, so loudly that Quistis had to cover her ears. Selphie and Irvine hugged each other close, and Quistis just embraced Seifer again. "And Rinoa?" Quistis asked softly. "She's fine too. They're both okay." He replied to their delight. Irvine looked puzzled however. "So why aren't they here?" Everyone seemed to agree with him, but Seifer was ready. "They'll be here soon. They had to do something first. Well, sorry to cut this short, but I gotta run. I'm kinda tired." Seifer lied to them. As he turned to walk out, he heard Quistis call after him. "Seifer," she started. He turned to face her. "I'm glad you're back. I really missed you." She finished, still blushing. "Thanks Quisty. I'm glad too." He replied with a smile, and walked out.
As he walked into Headmaster Cid's office, he noticed that they still hadn't found a replacement for Squall, the leader whom they were so fond of. Everyone still had faith that their wise leader would return to them; The man who they looked to throughout the whole Sorceress War. And now all that waiting would hopefully prove to be worth it. He walked briskly over to the file cabinet, pulled it out, and thumbed through the manila colored folders. There was so goddamned many of them he could be there forever. Then he found it. "Alexander Hanson. 2004- ___. Discharged from Balamb Garden on May 16th, 2032 for unknown reasons." Seifer read aloud. "Unknown reasons?" he repeated. "He's been discharged? Damn!" He cursed. How the hell was he supposed to find him now? He guessed it was hopeless. Squall and Rinoa would be like that forever. No! He had to stop thinking like that! It wouldn't do them any good if he gave up now. "Let's see, maybe Headmaster Cid would know something about it. After all, he is still the leader of Garden. He'd have to know why, or at least what happened as to why Hanson was discharged." He said to himself. First, he'd go to Hanson's old dorm.
He entered the room and frowned. It didn't look like much was going to be salvaged. Ashes colored almost the entire floor black, white paper was scattered all over the desk, and the bed was stripped of its sheets. He looked in a small fire pit in the corner of the room to see a pile of ashes inside. Since when did dorms have fireplaces? It didn't matter now. Suddenly, a scrap of paper caught his eye. He fished it out of the ashes, and read it. His eyes widened with excitement when he realized what it was.
Squall kicked the dirt with a thoughtful sigh and watched a rock scatter a few feet. He missed her so much. The only thing that kept him going day after day was the feeling that she was still with him, in a small sort of way. What time was it? Judging by the clouds he guessed it was about 4:30. Not much time before sundown. He hoped that Seifer wouldn't come back after sundown. Hyne he hoped he wouldn't. Seifer had enough sense not to do that... right? Well, he wasn't too sure about that one. He may trust Seifer in general, but he certainly didn't trust his common sense. He was jerked out of his thoughts from the soft coo of his love. He looked around him, but found no one in sight. Squall unsheathed Lionheart when he heard a loud rustling in the bushes.
Beads of sweat dripped down Seifer's face and he wrinkled his nose at the salty taste. His legs felt like limp noodles as he sprinted through the trees and bushes. He could feel each evil thorn and branch scrape at his legs, and the slight blood dripping down. But he didn't care. What mattered to him now was getting to Squall.
Squall's heart beat like a drum against his ribcage.Who was this intruder? What did he or she want? He heard hard rasps for breath, and breathed a sigh of relief when the intruder came through the greenery. He expected Seifer to walk up to him, but instead he saw the man sprint out and collapse to his knees, gasping for air. In his hands, he held tightly to a scrap of paper.
Squall walked up to him and put a hand on his hip, waiting for Seifer to speak. "Squall..." was all he got out before going into another frenzy of gasping. Squall just waited patiently. "Hanson... looked for... found... no..." Squall's eyes widened at the name, Seifer now had his undivided attention. "Seifer, slow down." he told him with a hand gesture. Seifer was practically killing himself trying to talk. "just calm down for a sec." He cautioned. "Please." His breathing slowed and gradually returned to normal, so he cleared his throat. He got up slowly, swaying a little from dizziness. A strong friendly hand on his shoulder reassured him, and he started over.
"I got back to Garden right? Talked to the others for a minute, then when to look up creepy Hanson's file. It said that he'd been discharged from Garden a month ago. So I went to his old dorm." Squall's stormy blue pools were locked with his. He wanted desperatly to hear more of why Seifer had come charging through the bushes like a madman. "I looked in his firepit, you know, to see if there was anything he'd burned. And I mean since when did they start putting firepits in dorms? It would be so easy for someone to start," Seifer was cut off abruptly by an angry Squall. "I don't care about that!!! What did you find!?!" He yelled. "Oh, oh sorry. Yeah, I rummaged through the pit and found this." He finished, revealing a scrap of singed paper. Annoyed, Squall ripped the paper from him. He read it, and looked up. Shock and amazement filled his bluish gray pools, his mouth slightly opened. Seifer smiled widely at the reaction. "Now, we need to hurry. In order for the cure to work we need to get going."
Chapter 4
Back to Garden
Disclaimer: No, ff8 doesn't belong to me, and none of it's characters do. But my characters belong to me!
Author's note: Sorry it took me so long to get this up here... but better late than never right? Well, this chapter has a surprise ending, but it's pretty predictable. Well, as always, please read and review, and give me some feedback people! Not just, very addicting please continue. That's very flattering and all, but I want to know how I'm doing and what I should change. Please don't flame, if you don't like it, don't read it! By the way, this is rated PG-13 for language. Phew, I'm done. On with the story!!!
Seifer sighed quietly as he stared up at the sleek vinyl tent roof. Morning was just about there, and he wasn't sure what he was going to tell Squall when he got there. He knew he had to return to Garden, but what would his explanation be? Everyone would want to know about where Squall and Rinoa were, but how was he gonna explain that stupid curse? And did Squall want them to know? He guessed that there was only one way to find out.
Squall scrambled to get his clothes on before anyone saw him. It was so embarrassing to wake up naked every morning. And cold too. He relaxed when he felt a light presence on his shoulder. She still gave him the most comfort, even as a dove.
Seifer's head snapped up when he heard light footsteps coming closer to the tent. Squall thought he was still asleep, and unzipped the tent very quietly. He jumped a bit when he saw Seifer awake. "Hey, I thought you'd be asleep still. Why are you up so early?" He inquired. Seifer was about to snap a retort in his usual rude way but caught himself. Squall had been so kind to him; why? After all he'd done? Said? He then realized just how much Squall loved Rinoa. He was hurting so badly from being away from her, that he was willing to forgive and forget. He understood that he was Squall's last hope. Whoever this Alexander guy was he was going to hunt him down and make him pay. "Well," he stuttered. "I'm going back to Garden Squall." He stated plainly. Squall's features drooped. He thought Seifer was leaving for good. When Seifer saw this, he quickly explained. "I wanted to tell everyone that you're okay. I also wanted to find that bastard who did this to you." Squall said nothing, but inside, he understood. "Alright Seifer. But do me one favor please." "What?" "Don't tell them about the curse. It would probably just make Zell have a spas attack and go on a rampage." Seifer had to laugh at that one. "Alright, done."
Seifer sighed peacefully as he reached the gates of his 20-year-old home. Everyone was going to be so excited to hear that Squall was okay. Zell especially. A part of that guy died that day when Squall and Rinoa disappeared. Same with everyone else. He really couldn't wait to tell them.
As he walked into the room, Quistis stood up and placed a hand over her slightly gaping mouth. "Seifer!" She managed finally. Suddenly she ran up to him and held him so tightly he had to release his breath. "Whoa Quistis, calm down. It's not like I've been gone for fifteen years." Seifer stated. Quistis blushed slightly, then sat down calmly. "Sorry." She muttered. "It's alright. Anyway, I wanted to tell you guys something that will make you very happy. Seifer said, barely keeping his emotions in. "It's about Squall." At this everyone jumped from his or her seats. "What about Squall?" Zell asked shakily. "I found him, he's alive." Not able to keep his emotions in any longer, Seifer grinned widely. Everyone sat there, shocked, stunned. Seifer swore he could've heard a pin drop in there. Zell was the first to break the silence by pumping his fists in the air in the usual Zell fashion. "OHHH YEAHH!!!!" He shouted, so loudly that Quistis had to cover her ears. Selphie and Irvine hugged each other close, and Quistis just embraced Seifer again. "And Rinoa?" Quistis asked softly. "She's fine too. They're both okay." He replied to their delight. Irvine looked puzzled however. "So why aren't they here?" Everyone seemed to agree with him, but Seifer was ready. "They'll be here soon. They had to do something first. Well, sorry to cut this short, but I gotta run. I'm kinda tired." Seifer lied to them. As he turned to walk out, he heard Quistis call after him. "Seifer," she started. He turned to face her. "I'm glad you're back. I really missed you." She finished, still blushing. "Thanks Quisty. I'm glad too." He replied with a smile, and walked out.
As he walked into Headmaster Cid's office, he noticed that they still hadn't found a replacement for Squall, the leader whom they were so fond of. Everyone still had faith that their wise leader would return to them; The man who they looked to throughout the whole Sorceress War. And now all that waiting would hopefully prove to be worth it. He walked briskly over to the file cabinet, pulled it out, and thumbed through the manila colored folders. There was so goddamned many of them he could be there forever. Then he found it. "Alexander Hanson. 2004- ___. Discharged from Balamb Garden on May 16th, 2032 for unknown reasons." Seifer read aloud. "Unknown reasons?" he repeated. "He's been discharged? Damn!" He cursed. How the hell was he supposed to find him now? He guessed it was hopeless. Squall and Rinoa would be like that forever. No! He had to stop thinking like that! It wouldn't do them any good if he gave up now. "Let's see, maybe Headmaster Cid would know something about it. After all, he is still the leader of Garden. He'd have to know why, or at least what happened as to why Hanson was discharged." He said to himself. First, he'd go to Hanson's old dorm.
He entered the room and frowned. It didn't look like much was going to be salvaged. Ashes colored almost the entire floor black, white paper was scattered all over the desk, and the bed was stripped of its sheets. He looked in a small fire pit in the corner of the room to see a pile of ashes inside. Since when did dorms have fireplaces? It didn't matter now. Suddenly, a scrap of paper caught his eye. He fished it out of the ashes, and read it. His eyes widened with excitement when he realized what it was.
Squall kicked the dirt with a thoughtful sigh and watched a rock scatter a few feet. He missed her so much. The only thing that kept him going day after day was the feeling that she was still with him, in a small sort of way. What time was it? Judging by the clouds he guessed it was about 4:30. Not much time before sundown. He hoped that Seifer wouldn't come back after sundown. Hyne he hoped he wouldn't. Seifer had enough sense not to do that... right? Well, he wasn't too sure about that one. He may trust Seifer in general, but he certainly didn't trust his common sense. He was jerked out of his thoughts from the soft coo of his love. He looked around him, but found no one in sight. Squall unsheathed Lionheart when he heard a loud rustling in the bushes.
Beads of sweat dripped down Seifer's face and he wrinkled his nose at the salty taste. His legs felt like limp noodles as he sprinted through the trees and bushes. He could feel each evil thorn and branch scrape at his legs, and the slight blood dripping down. But he didn't care. What mattered to him now was getting to Squall.
Squall's heart beat like a drum against his ribcage.Who was this intruder? What did he or she want? He heard hard rasps for breath, and breathed a sigh of relief when the intruder came through the greenery. He expected Seifer to walk up to him, but instead he saw the man sprint out and collapse to his knees, gasping for air. In his hands, he held tightly to a scrap of paper.
Squall walked up to him and put a hand on his hip, waiting for Seifer to speak. "Squall..." was all he got out before going into another frenzy of gasping. Squall just waited patiently. "Hanson... looked for... found... no..." Squall's eyes widened at the name, Seifer now had his undivided attention. "Seifer, slow down." he told him with a hand gesture. Seifer was practically killing himself trying to talk. "just calm down for a sec." He cautioned. "Please." His breathing slowed and gradually returned to normal, so he cleared his throat. He got up slowly, swaying a little from dizziness. A strong friendly hand on his shoulder reassured him, and he started over.
"I got back to Garden right? Talked to the others for a minute, then when to look up creepy Hanson's file. It said that he'd been discharged from Garden a month ago. So I went to his old dorm." Squall's stormy blue pools were locked with his. He wanted desperatly to hear more of why Seifer had come charging through the bushes like a madman. "I looked in his firepit, you know, to see if there was anything he'd burned. And I mean since when did they start putting firepits in dorms? It would be so easy for someone to start," Seifer was cut off abruptly by an angry Squall. "I don't care about that!!! What did you find!?!" He yelled. "Oh, oh sorry. Yeah, I rummaged through the pit and found this." He finished, revealing a scrap of singed paper. Annoyed, Squall ripped the paper from him. He read it, and looked up. Shock and amazement filled his bluish gray pools, his mouth slightly opened. Seifer smiled widely at the reaction. "Now, we need to hurry. In order for the cure to work we need to get going."